Takaya was sighted arriving in Victoria in 2012, ion my birthday. Eight years later, I never could’ve imagined that I’d have the privilege of making artwork to honour and pay my respects to this wolf. Nor would I have ever imagined the impact this wolf would would have on my life personally, on the local community and to people around the world. I’m deeply grateful for the time Cheryl Alexander’s spent in silence gaining the trust of a wild wolf, documenting the wolf and being such an important voice in the ongoing call for action to help conserve the wild. My gratitude extends to the Songhees for advocating that the wolf be allowed to remain on the islands. It’s truly incredible that a wolf dispersed from his pack and lived in solitude on tis tiny islands, coexisting in close proximity to a city, home to more than 85,000 people for eight years. It is such a gift when a wild animal enters one’s life as a teacher, friend or guide, offering deep lessons in life and death. Whether you knew the wolf as Takaya or Staqeya, we can all agree that this lone wolf has provided a path for all of us. Takaya means Respected One in Japanese and if I had to pick one word to describe the wolf I would choose, zen.
